Dva2603 assignment
Gender equality refers to both men and women having equal access to opportunities, having
the same rights and sharing the same benefits. They require for both genders to have equal
powers in terms of financial independence, education and personal development. According to
(lynet?) gender equality refers to the extent to which national cultures support women’s
development and achievements.
A remarkable development has been made towards gender equality and the liberation of
women in the past decades, but up until now we are still discovering that women are still
getting paid less wages than men, having less access to further education and are exposed to
less opportunities compared to their male counterparts. Gender equality is often associated
with empowering women and alleviating poverty, building harmonious societies and achieving
sustainable development. Gender equality plays an essential role in the development of
women’s empowerment and creating opportunities for women to partake in decision-making
and to also participate in the economy globally. Equality between men and women only exits
when both genders are able to equally share opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres
of life. According to *qt yextbook equality does not mean that woman and men will become the
same, however it means that women’s and men’s responsibilities and opportunities will not
depend on weather they are born male or female.
Higher levels of female education and literacy have been found to reduce child mortality and
improve educational outcomes for the next generation. The presence of women in political
leadership positions appears to increase schooling for girls. Children’s health is influenced by
women’s bargaining power in the home. Lower fertility rates, also associated with increased
educational attainment for women, can have a positive effect on growth, while gender
inequality in education undermines growth(Terra Lawson-Remer 2012).
According to the (united nations 2007:18) the purpose of millennium development goal 3 was
to promote gender equality and empower women. It is crucial to advance the entire
participation of both genders in attempts aimed at enhancing economic development, poverty
alleviation, promoting sustainability and creating food security for all world-wide. The
millennium goal 3 encourages for gender equality in all area of life, Education and social
improvement for women and girls especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Gender-based violence can be defined as ‘any harm that is perpetrated against a person’s will;
that has a negative impact on the physical or psychological health, development and identity of
the person, and that is the result of gendered power inequalities that exploit distinctions
between males and females, among males, among females’(ward, 2002:8-9). It is directed
against a person primarily because of their gender. It affects both men and women based on
their sexual identity, However studies show that more women and girls fall victim to this sort of
violence mostly because of social norms such as their masculinity and femininity. Gender based